You should read this incredible profile of Withers. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bill-withers-the-soul-man-who-walked-away-111535/amp/

Two things stick out to me, first, this recollection from his childhood. Given this was written only five years ago, it’s a reminder of how *recent* Jim Crow and its violence is.

The second is the fact that Withers owned his music, which meant he and his family — and not the labels — profitted from his work.